Toggle switch having illumination means

ABSTRACT

An electrical toggle switch is provided with an actuator made to include an inner section having an initially open cavity containing a lamp, and a subsequently applied outer section in the form of a rocker plate which closes the cavity and is illuminated by the lamp.

United States Patent Yarbrough 51 Mar. 21 1972 [541 TOGGLE SWITCH HAVING I 5g M v References Cited ILLUMINATION MEANS UNITED STATES PATENTS [721 Invent William Cemms Cahf' 3,274,369 9/1966 Quinn ..200/1 67 A 73 Assignee; Sierra m a Inc Garden-a, m 3,435,169 3/1969 Bienwald et a1 ..200/l67 A [22] Filed; g- 1970 Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones [2]] pp No: 65,438 Attorney-Wh1te, Haefllger and Bachand [57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. Cl. ..200/l67 A, 200/168 c An electrical toggle switch is pmided with an made [51 1 Int. Cl. t i l d an inner section having an o en cavity can- [58] Field of Search ..200/ 167 A, 67 G, 168 C g i i a lamp, and a subsequently applied outer sectidn in the form of a rocker plate which closes the cavity and is illuminated by the lamp.

'IOGGLE SWITCH HAVING ILLUMINATION MEANS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has to do generally with electrical toggle switches and particularly with structural features and manufacturing procedures in achieving illumination of the switch manual actuator.

In more specific aspects the invention relates to improvements in toggle switches of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,605, issued Jan. 24, 1967, on Electrical Wall Switch, employing an exposed plate-like rocker as part of the switch actuator.

The present invention has for its object to provide for illumination of the rocker plate by formation of the actuator in inner and outer sections, the latter being the rocker plate and the inner section including a cavity containing the lamp and closed by and in light transmitting relation with the rocker plate.

Initial separateness of the sections results in both structural and production advantages in that initially the cavity is accessible for insertion of the lamp and the mating of its electrical connections, and subsequent application of the rocker plate encloses the lamp for transmission of its light through a translucent area of the plate.

These and other features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation illustrative of a face plate and the associated toggle switch appearing in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section on line'2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded prospective illustrative of the actuator rocker plate, lamp, inner cavitated sections and the receptacle cover.

FIG. 5 shows the receptacle and inner actuator section in side elevation;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the rocker plate in changed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 the invention is shown in typical though preferred association with parts of a toggle switch of the type and structure appearing in U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,605 referred to hereinabove. The switch components are shown to comprise an actuator assembly generally indicated at 10 and with which the invention is primarily concerned, operable to oscillate switch components comprising a contact arm device including a blade-like member 11 carrying arm 12 having terminal contacts 13, 14 alternately engageable with stationary contacts 15, 16 electrically connected with screw or binding post terminals 17 and 18. Member 11 oscillates within the recess portion 19 of an essentially flat spring 20 by which the member 11 is urged against the notched terminal 21 of the actuator assembly 10. Thus the member 11 and its arm 12 have an overcenter or toggle relation with the actuator assembly productive of characteristic toggle actuation of the contact arm.

The described parts of the switch are contained in a body section 22 grooved at 22a to receive the spring 20 and connected by screws 23 to cover section 24 and also to mounting strap 25 at the inside of a conventional face plate 26.

The actuator assembly 10 comprises an outer rocker plate section 27 engaged with an inner section 28 carrying beyond its reduced shanks the terminal 21 and having an enlarged cavitated portion 29 containing lamp 30. The inner surfaces 31 of plate 27 are angularly deflected to permit rocking movements of the plate into and out of engagement with quiet" stops 32 received within the strap 25. The rocker plate also has a centrally positioned translucent area formed by insert 33 positioned in ali nment with the lam 30.

The preferre 'interengagement o the actuator sections 27 and 28 is by way of the integrally formed rocker plate ribs 34 recessed at 34a and spaced apart to have snap and holding engagement with ribs 29a in opposite sides of the cavitated enlargement 29 of the inner section as shown in FIG. 2.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3 the cavitated section 29 is centrally supported for rocking movement on the body section rib 22b with the notched terminal 21 and members 11, 12 and 20 in oft'set relation as illustrated. As viewed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the part 29 has opposed external pivots 36 supported within recesses 36] in the body cover section 24 with clearances in the recesses to permit limited rocking movement of the part.

Internally the cavity 38 contains the lamp 30 centrally positioned within recess 39, the lamp having leads 40 and 41 connected through resistor 42 with the switch terminals.

As will be understood from the foregoing, actuations of the rocker plate 27 alternate the engagement of contacts 13 and 14 with the stationary contacts 15 and 16 to turn the switch circuitry on and off. By reason of the oscillatory mounting of the lamp 30 and its alignment with the translucent insert 33, the rocker plate 27 remains in constant visible illumination.

The relation of the actuator sections 27 and 28 permits an important manufacturing advantage in that initially, or before application of the rocker plate, the cavitated interior of section 28 is accessible for accommodation of the lamp 30 and its electrical connections including the leads 40 and 41. Thereafter the rocker plate projections 34 may be separably or permanently engaged with the innersection ribs 29a according to whether the lamp in its connections are to be inaccessibly contained within the cavitated innersection, or rendered accessible for whatever purposes by separability of the rocker plate 27.

I claim:

1. An electrical toggle switch comprising a body, an actuator accommodated within the body for reverse rocking movement to alternate electrical contacts, said actuator comprising an inner section having a cavity containing an electric lamp, a separately formed outer section including a manually operable rocker plate closing said cavity and illuminated by the lamp, and means interconnecting said sections, said means comprising spaced apart ribs on the underside of said rocker plate engaging the outside of the cavitated portion of said inner section.

2. A switch according to claim 1, in which said sections are separable.

3. A switch according to claim 1, in which said rocker plate contains a centered translucent insert.

4. A switch according to claim 1, in which said ribs are recessed for snap engaging the outside of the cavitated portion of said inner section.

5. A switch according to claim 1, in which said ribs are parallel and formed integrally with the rocker plate.

6. A switch according to claim 1, in which the inner section has beyond said cavity a reduced shank notched to receive a contact carrying arm.

7. A switch according to claim 4, in which the inner section has beyond said cavity a reduced shank notched receiving a contact carrying arm.

8. A switch according to claim 7, in which said contact carrying arm is otfset in relation to said inner section. 

1. An electrical toggle switch comprising a body, an actuator accommodated within the body for reverse rocking movement to alternate electrical contacts, said actuator comprising an inner section having a cavity containing an electric lamp, a separately formed outer section including a manually operable rocker plate closing said cavity and illuminated by the lamp, and means interconnecting said sections, said means comprising spaced apart ribs on the underside of said rocker plate engaging the outside of the cavitated portion of said inner section.
 2. A switch according to claim 1, in which said sections are separable.
 3. A switch according to claim 1, in which said rocker plate contains a centered translucent insert.
 4. A switch according to claim 1, in which said ribs are recessed for snap engaging the outside of the cavitated portion of said inner section.
 5. A switch according to claim 1, in which said ribs are parallel and formed integrally with the rocker plate.
 6. A switch according to claim 1, in which the inner section has beyond said cavity a reduced shank notched to receive a contact carrying arm.
 7. A switch according to claim 4, in which the inner section has beyond said cavity a reduced shank notched receiving a contact carrying arm.
 8. A switch according to claim 7, in which said contact carrying arm is offset in relation to said inner section. 